Best timing for a newborn session
With typical, full-term babies, I like to shoot when baby is between 5 and 8 days old. Babies who are born much earlier than expected have a little more wiggle room, but I still like to photograph within two weeks of life. It really is all case-by-case.
There are also multiples and extra-early babies who might have a NICU stay for a little while. We will just wait until they come home and the doc gives mom and dad the all-clear.
In every case, the goal is to photograph a *sleeping* baby. Not just drowsy, limp, or milk-drunk, but sleeping. This requires patience sometime, but it is truly worth the wait. Young, tiny babies are always the sleepiest, so it’s important that we make an effort to shoot as soon as possible.
For this reason it is very important that you call and schedule your session when your bun is still in the oven. Go here for when to schedule your newborn session.
Scheduling early is especially important when you are planning on asking me to come to your home for your newborn session.
BUT WHAT ABOUT…
GERMIES…. Before handling your baby, and also throughout the session, I always wash up. That’s a given. Also, I hope it comforts you to know that I choose to get a yearly flu shot since my tiny clients are who they are. Also, and this may be obvious, but I don’t shoot if I’m sick, and we make it a practice to reschedule the session if my clients have sick children. Sick kiddos just aren’t in my studio.
JAUNDICE…. Yellow skin is actually not a huge deal to edit. And babies with a bit of jaundice tend to sleep better, so the session moves faster!
WE WERE UP ALL NIGHT WITH OUR BABY…. UGH I feel for ya! But I’m super encouraged about the session. Kids that have been up all night are craving sleep, so bringing them into a toasty warm studio that mimics the sound and feel of momma’s womb is often the ticket to them conking out.
THE UMBILICAL CORD HASN’T FALLEN OFF YET… No problem. In 95% of the shots I take, the posing itself hides the cord. If noticing the cord bothers you, just say the word and I’ll make sure it is not seen in the images. Definitely don’t wait until it falls off to shoot the session though. That could take two weeks and we will have missed our prime window for having the best newborn session.
